Laundry machinery



Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,762 c. F. MEISSNER LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Dec. 16, 1921' Z'Sheets-Sheet l lrwezzz ar a @567 $1667 6 cf) 1 C. F. MEISSNER LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Dec. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r \lll' w 4 a 7 v r 1f #0 3 & 7 3 6 u i g A M x A n I H MN 3 AF/u WW F m m "M." 0 w 4 3 3 3 Patented li er. 3t), 1924.

ranger UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CLEMENT F. MEISSNER, 01 CHICAGO, ILLHIOES, ASSIGNOB. TO TROY LAUNDRY MA- CHINERY 06., L533 OF GHICAfiQ, ILLENGIS, A. CGRPORATION OF NEW' YORK.

LAUNDRY MACHINERY.

Application filed December is, 1921. Serial in. 522,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT F. Minssrnzn,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Laundry Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to laundry machinery.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a system of laundry machinery which provides a circulating system for the washing medium having means for cleans ing said medium during the washing oper ation. The invention contemplates indicating means for indicating the state of the cleanliness of the washing medium whereby to constitute an index to the state of cleanliness of the garments being washed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of washing involving cleansing mechanism for the washing medium, together with improved means for indicating the state of cleanliness of said washing medium.

A further object is to provide an indicator, useful in a system such as referred to above, which is easy to read and effective in its operation.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 represents laundry apparatus for cleaning garments, particularly useful in the so-called dry cleaning process;

Figures 2 and 3 represent in sectional ele vation two embodiments of a preferred indicating means according to the present invention; and,

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken alon the lines t-4: and 5-5 respectively of B igures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral indicates a washer, which may be of the rotating drum type, being driven by means of suitable power transmitting means. Said washer 10 is provided with an inlet pipe 11 through which cleansing medium may be admitted, which cleansing medium may be clean gasolene. Said inlet pipe 11 leads to a junction 12 which communicates on the one side with the washer 10 and on the other lside with the pipe 13, the functions of which will be referred to hereinafter. The Washer 10 may be provided with a pair of vents 1+t1 leading to the vent duct 15 through which vapors from the cleansing medium may be led away to a safe place. Overflow means may be provided at the point indicated by the numeral 16, which should comn'iunicate with the outlet pipe 17 as indicated at the point 18. The outlet pipe 1'? should communicate with the lowermost part of the washer 10 and may be provided with a valve 19 between the washer 10 and the point 18. The outlet pipe 17 leads to the trap 20, from which communication is had to the pump 21 which may be driven by any preferred means and which directs fluid through indicator 22 by way of pipe 22**. A pipe 23 may provide communication from said trap and pump to a settling tank, not shown. After passing the inclicator 22, the cleansing medium is conducted by way of pipe 22 to the clarifier 24:, such, for. example as a centrifugal separator. Said clarifier 24 has an outlet 25 for clean medium and an outlet 26 for overflow in the event of clogging. The outlet 25 for the clean medium leads to the receptacle 27, to the bottom of which is connected the return pipe 13 leading to the junction 12 which leads to the washer 10.

Reference may now be had to Figure 2, which shows a preferred embodiment of the indicator 22. Said indicator 22 comprises a casting 28 having an aperture 29, which may be pipe-threaded whereby said casting 28 may be fastened onto the pipe 22. Cooperating with the casting 28 is the casting 30 which is of open construction having the annular end portion 31 and four pillars indicated by the numerals 32. Said casting 30 is provided with the aperture 33, which may be screw-threaded to receive the upper pipe 22". The end portion 31 of casting 30 may have screw-threaded engagement with casting 28. Said castings 28 and 30 provide between them annular seats 34:-3el for the annular transparent member 35, which may be of glass. Packing of any preferred nature may be used between the annular member 35 and the castings 28 and 30 whereby to provide a leak-proof joint. Set screws, indicated by the numeral 35, may be provided for preventing turning movement between the castings 28 and 30. Mounted within the chamber formed by the castings 23; and 30 and the annular member 35 is the dome 36, whichis preferably integral with casting 28 and which is provided with a plurality of apertures 3737. Said apertures 3737 may be circular in outline and may have their center lines arranged in rows in parallel planes. The apertures in any row may be symmetrically placed whereby to reduce to a minimum the eddy currents set up within the indicator 22. The total area of the apertures 37-3I and the base of the chamber provided by wall 35 should each be greater than the bases of pipes 22 and 22, whereby there will be a material slowing up of the speed of travel of the washing medium while in said indicator. Each of the members 28 and 30 may be provided with portions of polygonal conformation as indicated at 37' to facilitate handling with a wrench.

The modification illustrated in Figure 3 diifers in certain details from, the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and A. Instead of being screw-threaded together as illustrated in Figure 2, the upper and lower castings 30 and 28 are held together by means of bolts 3838. As in Figure 2, the modified form has seats 3 l3 l arranged in the castings 30 and 28 for accommodating the annular transparent member 35.

A mode of operation of the present invention will be clear without detailed explanation. The cleansing operation will be carried on within the washerlO. There may be an intermittent or continuous flow of cleansing medium from said washer 10 through the indicator 22, said cleansing medium being forced to circulate by means of the pump 21. After leaving the indicator the cleansing medium will be forced into the olarifier 24, which will perform the function of removing the dirt from said cleansing medium. allowing a clarified liquid to be transmitted back to the washer 10. Inasmuch as the indicator 22 is placed between the outlet of the washer and the inlet of the clarifier, said indicator will constitute an index to the state of cleanliness of the garments within the washer 10. Inasmuch as the cleansing medium will usually assume a yellowish color, the color of the dome 36 within the indicator 22 should be so chosen as to distinguish from said yellow color. In practice it has been found preferable to nickleplate said dome 36. Due to the fact that the speed of the cleansing medium will'be very materially reduced while passing through the indicator, 'and due to the fact that the contour and design of the dome 36 will result in a minimum of eddy currents within said indicator, it will be a simple matter to observe the degree of cleanliness of said cleansing medium.

The construction of the indicator 22 permits a high degree of visibility and lends itself readily to effective packin whereb to avoid leaks. c 2' y One embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in this patent to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cleansing system, means for indicating visually the clarity of cleansing medium, said means comprising a transparent wall and rigid members constituting mounting means for said wall, said means being provided with an inlet means comprising a distributing member having a relatively large number of symmetrically placed holes for reducing eddy currents within said means.

2. In a clarity indicator for moving'liquids, a vessel having a transparent portion, a medium distributing member visible through said transparent portion, said memher having a color contrasting with said medium, said distributing member being provided with symmetrically placed holes to reduce eddy currents to a minimum.

3. A clarity indicator for cleansing systems comprising an annular transparent member, rigid members mounted at both ends of said annular member and providing connections for inlet and outlet pipes, a liquid distributor mounted concentrically with said annular member, said distributor being provided with symmetrically placed holes to reduce eddy currents to a minimum.

4. A clarity indicator comprising'an annular transparent member. mounting means for the two ends of said annular members, said mounting means providing connections for inlet and outlet pipes, a liquid distributing member connected with one of said mounting means, said distributing member being provided with a plurality :of holes, said holes being arranged symmetrically, whereby to reduce eddy currents to a minimum.

5. A clarity indicator comprising an annular transparent member, mounting means for the two ends of said annular members,

said mounting means, providing connections in inlet and outlet pipes, a liquid distributing member connected with one of said mounting means, said distributing'member being provided with a plurality of holes,

said holes being arranged symmetrically .120

whereby to reduce eddy currents to a minimum, said distributing member having a color contrasting with the liquid whose clarity is to be indicated.

6. A clarity indicator for cleansing systems comprising an annular transparent member, rigid members mounted at both ends of said annular member'and providmg connections for inlet and outlet p1pes,-a

liquid distributor mounted concentrically;

with said annular member said distributor being provided with symmetrically placed holes to reduce eddy currents to a minimum said indicator comprising a chamber of larger base then its inlet whereby to reduce the speed of liquid passing theretlnfough.

7. In a clarity indicator for moving liquids, a vessel having a transparent portion, a, medium distributing member visible through said transparent portion said member having a color contrasting with said medium distributing member, said distributing member being dome-shaped and being provided with symmeti'ieally placed holes to reduce eddy currents to a minimum.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of December, 1921.

CLEMENT F. MEISSNER 

